Ankle and foot pain - Herceptin or Neuropathy??

[weezie1053]

I hate to keep dwelling on side affects, but it seems like the pain in my feet is getting worst. I completed the Taxol/Herceptin combo in Feb 07. I have the Herceptin every 3 weeks. Prior to Sept 07, when I started chemo, I was in pretty good physical shape other than I was about 10 pounds overweight. I quickly gained another 10 lbs., and I am now trying to walk in an attempt to lose the excess 20 pounds. This past week, I went on vacation, and I walked every day. My ankles are really bothering me. They are very stiff and they hurt after I walk. I was just wondering if this could be caused by the Herceptin or is it most likely a result of the Taxol? Walking was always a stress buster for me, and I really miss it.

I will not complete my Herceptin treatments until Nov 07. I see my Oncologist on Thursday. I previously took Neurontin which helped, but it worsened the fatigue, and I quit taking it. I hate taking meds unless I am in extreme pain. I guess I need to learn to die quietly as my Dad use to say.

Thanks for any comments in this regard.

[SusanC]

I just wanted to say that your not alone with the pain. I have talked to a few friends who said they were in pain AFTER chemo. This is going to sound crazy, but I don't think the doctors really know about the long-term side effects of chemo.
Susan C.

[weezie1053]

No, it doesn't sound crazy to me. I am so grateful to have stumbled onto this website. The longer I am in this game, I am learning how invaluable this website is. I am learning a lot by reading about the medical experiences of others. My oncologist, who I adore, had not heard of the website.

[michka]

I had a lot of severe side effects after Taxol. My doctor wanted to stop me after 9 weeks but I wanted to do the 12 weeks. One of the problems was that I had pain all over, sometimes in joints. My ankles were swollen at the end and I had trouble walking for my 2 last rounds. It stopped around a month after chemo. Are your ankles swollen? Hold on, it will fade within a couple of weeks.
I continued Herceptine that does not affect me (hurray!, at least one thing I support).
It is 6 months after the end of chemo. I had so many side effects with Taxol that I am sure my body is not able to cope with pain as well.
Michka